*Crowds on O’Connell Street in Ennis, Photograph: John O’Neill || Inset: Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle
A CALL has been made for a daytime drop-in centre for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Ennis, with Clare County Council to explore options with relevant agencies and organisations.
The proposal was brought forward by Mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) at the September meeting of the Ennis Municipal District.
In a written motion, Cllr Guilfoyle asked the Executive team to convene a meeting of relevant stakeholders, including statutory agencies, homeless charities, outreach teams, addiction and mental health services and volunteer groups, to examine the establishment of a daytime drop-in centre in Ennis.
In a written response, Senior Executive Officer Pádraig McCormaic said the Housing Team welcomed the motion and that the Clare Homeless Action Team had also identified the potential for such a facility.
He said the team welcomed input and suggestions from interested parties, particularly regarding a suitable and available space.
Mr McCormaic said key stakeholders in the area were already part of the Mid-West Regional Homeless Forum, led by Limerick City and County Council.
The forum includes representatives from Clare County Council, the HSE, Prison Service, Probation Service, Education and Training Board, Department of Social Protection, Regional Drugs Task Force, Tusla, ADAPT and a number of approved housing bodies.
“I will bring this motion to their attention for the next meeting and start exploring options around same,” Mr McCormaic said.
He added that any proposal subsequently brought forward to the Mid-West Homeless Strategic Management Team would require multi-year funding and resource commitments from all involved.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Guilfoyle said Ennis currently did not have a daytime drop-in centre and welcomed the council’s response.
“Here’s to Ennis one day having a centre,” he said.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), who seconded the motion, said he was “shocked” by how a simple event of trauma could affect a person’s circumstances.
He pointed to events such as a relationship breakdown, bereavement or loss of employment as situations that could have a significant impact on someone’s life.
Cllr O’Callaghan said the issues involved were sensitive and needed to be dealt with in a sensitive manner.
He described a daytime facility as a “necessity”, saying that someone who needed help should have somewhere they could go to receive support.
Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) described the motion as “fantastic” and said homelessness in Ennis could sometimes be hidden.
She referred to people living in bed-and-breakfast-style accommodation who could have nowhere to go during the day.
She said people could be left walking around for eight or nine hours, which she described as “hard to fathom”.
Deputy Mayor Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said particular accommodation arrangements could apply a from 9pm to 9am only clause, highlighting the need for somewhere people could go during the day.
She said a drop-in centre could provide a safe place for people to socialise and have a cup of tea or coffee.
Cllr Howard said she would “love to see it come to fruition” and that issues involving addiction, mental health and people falling on hard times needed to be approached compassionately.
Concluding the discussion, Cllr Guilfoyle said the proposal had come from conversations with relevant stakeholders.
He said the central issue was the “fact that they have no where to go”.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
